Narottam das thakur biography of abraham

Passing through Bengal in a short time, he soon found himself on the road to Mathura. All the other pilgrims he would meet were very affectionate toward Narottama, as they could recognize him as the son of the king. He would sometimes live by drinking milk and sometimes would eat the roots and fruits as he went along. His constant hankering to see Vrindavana made his hunger and thirst go away.

As he moved from place to place, he would hear the glories of Gaura and Nityananda from the mouths of many devotees. In this way, he was always thinking about their lotus feet, constantly absorbed in meditation. As he walked and walked, he prayed to the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as he has written: ara kabe nitai chand By his mercy one may give up material enjoyment and purify his mind.

In this way, by the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, one can attain Vrindavana. In this way, walking and walking, Narottama das arrived in Mathura and, seeing the Yamuna, he offered many prayers. Remembering the names of the six Goswamis headed by Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana, he began to weep in ecstasy. Gradually he came to Vrindavana itself and entered into that holy land.

Lokanatha Maharaj was very ancient, and was so deeply agonized by the pain of separation from Sri Gauranga that it was as if his very life had been taken away. I wish to serve your lotus feet. After this, Narottama Thakura would secretly go in the middle of the night to the place where Lokanatha Maharaj would pass stool and urine, and cleanse the area, maintaining everything there very nicely.

After a year of serving in this way, his service was recognized by Lokanatha Goswami, who bestowed his mercy upon Narottama Thakura. On the full moon day of the month of Sravana, he initiated Narottama Thakura as his disciple. He used to eat by practicing madhukari , begging a little from any house, and would study the Goswami scriptures under the guidance of Shri Jiva Goswami.

Srinivas Acharya was his dear friend, and together the two of them used to study under Jiva Goswami. These three with one mind performed their bhajan in Vrindavana and yet still they felt that their inner aspiration had not attained its complete fulfillment. Taking the literatures of the Goswamis you must quickly go to Bengal and begin preaching.

The three of them gave up their residence in Vrindavana and accepted the order of their guru on their heads. Taking the treasured scriptures of the Goswamis with them, they started on their journey to Bengal. As they continued on their way, gradually they came to Vanavishnupur. In Vanavishnupur lived a king of dacoits and thieves named Shri Birhambir.

At night he had the scriptures stolen, thinking them to be treasure of some kind. Awakening in the morning and seeing the scriptures stolen, the three of them felt as if their heads had been hit by a thunderbolt. Miserable beyond description, the three of them began searching the four directions for the scriptures, until finally news came to them that King Birhambir had stolen the books and was keeping them hidden in his royal storehouse.

In order to see the holy birthplace of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Narottama went to quickly visit Nabadwipa. O Gaurahari! Just then an old brahmana happened to walk by. Narottama rose to his feet to show respect to the brahmana. What is your name? Narottama introduced himself and expressed his desire to see the holy birthplace of Shri Chaitanya.

You have seen Chaitanya? Every day Nimai Pandit sits with his disciples at this ghat and discusses the shastra , and then, from a distance I watch him and wonder at the beauty of his divine form. Today I remember seeing that very form sitting beneath this tree here, where he sits every day. It is the fortune of a lifetime that I have beheld you with these eyes.

I give you my blessings that soon you will attain devotion to the lotus feet of Govinda. At that time, you will preach the glories of Gaura-Govinda far and wide. After this, the brahmana showed Narottam Das the path to where the house of Jagannatha Mishra was. Finding that path, Shri Narottama walked until he came to the house of Jagannatha Mishra.

Arriving at the house of Jagannatha Mishra, he fell down at the door with tears in his eyes and offered his full obeisances, while reciting various prayers in glorification of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Entering within the house he had darshan of the lotus feet of Shuklambara Brahmacari. Narottama offered his respects to his feet. Narottama introduced himself, explaining that he had been living in Vrindavana under the care of Jiva Goswami and Lokanatha Goswami, and that he had just arrived in Nabadwipa.

You were with Lokanatha and Jiva Goswami? In this way, he talked on and on with Narottama, as he wanted to hear all about Vrindavana and everything that was going on there. Finally, Narottama got to meet Ishan Thakura, the old servant of Shri Saci Mata, and upon meeting him, he offered his prayers of respect at his holy feet and introduced himself.

After this, Narottama met Shri Damodara Pandit and offered his respects to him. All of them affectionately embraced Narottama. After staying for a few days in Mayapura, Narottama went to visit the house of Advaita in Shantipura.

Narottam das thakur biography of abraham

There he offered his respects at the lotus feet of Acyutananda. Acyutananda introduced himself and inquired after the health and well-being of the Vrindavana Goswamis. After staying in Shantipura for two days, he went on to Ambika Kalna to the house of Gauridas Pandit. At that time, Shri Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu was staying there. He was the disciple of Gauridas Pandit.

Shri Narottama offered his respects to Hridaya Chaitanya. The two of them affectionately embraced and Narottam gave him news of the activities of the Goswamis in Vrindavana. After staying in Ambika Kalna for a day, he went on to the place where the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet—a village called Saptagram. In that place Uddharana Datta Thakura lived.

Shri Nityananda Prabhu had previously given his mercy to the residents of Saptagram, and so all the people there were great devotees. After the disappearance of Uddharana Datta Thakura, the people in the village felt like they had lost their vision. Shri Narottama went to the house of Uddharana Datta Thakura and there, he found that the devotees were absorbed in separation from their guru, in great agony passing their days.

Narottama Das offered his respects to all the Vaishnavas there and continued on his way to Kharadaha Gram. Shri Narottama went to the house of Nityananda and remembering the sublime holy name of Nityananda his voice choked up in ecstasy. Having been introduced to Narottama, who they could understand had received the mercy of Lokanatha and Jiva Goswami, they bestowed their mercy upon him.

It is said in the Bhakti-Ratnakara that both Vasu, who was the knower of all truths, and Shri Jahnava, who is the Supreme Mistress, wife of Lord Nityananda, bestowed their incomparable mercy upon Narottama. Four days later, Narottama, after having spent much time discussing Krishna- katha in great ecstasy with Shri Jahnava and Vasu, bade them farewell and left for the town of Khanakula Krishna-nagara to see the place of Abhiram Gopal Thakura.

Having met him, Narottam offered his respects to the holy feet of Abhiram Gopal. He was passing his days in the great pain of separation from Shri Chaitanya and Nityananda. He had become extremely internal, barely spending any time in the plane of external consciousness. Seeing him in that condition, Narottam wept a great deal. The Gopinath Deity of Abhiram Thakura was wonderful to see.

Narottam took darshan of the deity and recited many prayers and verses in praise of the Lord before the deity. The next day, after taking his leave of the house of Abhiram Gopal, Narottam had some inspiration from within and set out for Jagannatha Puri. Constantly absorbed in thinking of the eternal associates of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, it seemed to Narottama that he reached in Jagannatha Puri in no time at all.

Shri Gopinath Acharya and many other devotees, seeing Narottama on the path all went out to greet him on the road. In this way, surrounded by devotees, he arrived in Jagannatha Puri. All the devotees were very happy to have Narottama in their midst, and they took him to have darshan in the temple of Jagannatha. While taking darshan of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, Narottama offered many fine prayers in their glorification and bowed down before them again and again.

After this he went to the samadhi of Haridas Thakura and upon arriving there began to drown in the ocean of Shri Krishna prema. O Gadadhara! Thereafter, Shri Narottama Das Thakura drew near to that part of the Gopinath deity where it is said that Mahaprabhu entered into, when he disappeared from this earth by entering into the deity in the presence of his devotees.

Upon his disappearance, all of a sudden the earth became dark. He entered into the Gopinatha mandir and never came out. In this way, he left the visible plane and entered into the invisible plane. After this, Narottama went to the house of Kashi Mishra, took darshan of the generous lotus feet of Shri Gopala Guru Goswami and saw the deities at the Radha-Kanta math.

Then he visited the Narendra Sarovara lake and many other places. Seeing Narottama after such a long time, Shyamananda Prabhu was floating in the ocean of ecstasy. In the ecstasy of Krishna- prema the two of them joyfully embraced one another. Shyamananda Prabhu, out of affection kept Narottama in Nrishingapura for many days, not allowing him to leave.

Shri Narottama sanctified the town of Nrishingapura by drowning everyone there in a nectarine flood of sankirtan. Together Shyamananda and Narottama would go on discussing Krishna- katha in great ecstasy, without any knowledge of whether it was day or night. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Supreme deity. Important deities.

Holy scriptures. Related traditions. Biography [ edit ]. Narottama's writings [ edit ]. A Bengali bhajan composed by Narottama Dasa. Music and singing by A. Bhaktivedanta Swami ca. Problems playing this file? See media help. See also [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. Jr History of Religions. JSTOR S2CID Retrieved 13 July Archived from the original on 9 April Retrieved 30 April Archived from the original on 16 May Retrieved 7 March African and Asian Studies.

Columbia University Press. ISBN Retrieved 7 June This was one of Narottama dasa Thakura's main preaching points — that a Vaishnava is not a mllecha, nor yavana, nor brahmin, nor sudra, etc. Vaisnavism should only be guaged according to one's surrender and realization in Krishna consciousness. There should be no consideration of birth, age, caste, creed, shoe size, education, social status, who one is initiated by, the year one took initiation, or when one first came in contact with devotional service.

Nor is Krishna consciousness advancement dependant on household duties, taking sannyasa, ritualistic performances, group agreement, or the like — simply how one is absorbed in one's service to the lotus eyed Lord. This is the conclusion of Narottama dasa Thakura's preaching stratagy. All the pilgrims he would meet were very affectionate toward young Narottama, as they could recognize him as the son of the king.

He would sometimes live by drinking milk and sometimes would eat the roots and fruits as he went along. As he walked on he prayed to Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as he has written: " ara kabe nitai chand By his mercy only one may give up material enjoyment and purify his mind. Only by the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, one can attain Vrindavan.

Eventually, Narottama das arrived in Mathura and, seeing the Yamuna, he offered many prayers. Remembering the names of the six goswamis headed by Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana, he began to weep in ecstasy. Gradually he came to Vrindavan itself and met Sri Jiva Goswami who joyfully blessed him and sent him to serve the lotus feet of Sri Lokanath Goswami.

Sri Lokanath Maharaj was very old and was so deeply agonized by the pain of separation from Sri Gauranga that it was as if his very life had been taken away. Narottama offered his obeisances to the lotus feet of Sri Lokanath and Lokanath asked him, "Who are you? I wish to serve your lotus feet. Not ready to give up, Narottama das would secretly go in the middle of the night to the place where Lokanath Maharaj used to relieve himself and cleanse the area.

Lokanath swamy could not understand who was cleaning up the place every day. After a year of serving in this way, Lokanath Goswami one night caught Narottam doing this menial service and he bestowed his mercy upon Narottama das Thakura. On the full moon day of the month of Sravana, he initiated Narottama Thakura as his disciple. Narottam used to eat by practicing madhukari , and would study the Goswami scriptures under the guidance of Shri Jiva Goswami.

Srinivas Acharya was his dear friend, and together the two of them used to study under Jiva Goswami. At that time Shyamananda Prabhu also arrived from Gauda-Desh and he joined the two in studying the Goswami's scriptures under the guidance of Shri Jiva Goswami. These three devotedly performed their bhajan in Vrindavan. One day Jiva Gosami called the three of them to him and said "You have spent all these years very fruitfully in Vrindavan.

Now you must serve the great mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In the time to come, you must preach the message of Mahaprabhu far and wide. Taking the literature of the Goswamis you must return go to Bengal as soon as possible and begin preaching. Accepting the instructions of Sri Jiva Goswami humbly, the three of them left Vrindavan.

Taking the treasured scriptures of the Goswamis with them they started on their journey to Bengal. As they continued on their way, gradually they came to Vana-vishnupur. In Vana-vishnupur lived the chief of a dreaded gang of dacoits named Birhambir. At night he had the scriptures stolen, thinking them to be treasure of some kind. Awakening in the morning and seeing the scriptures stolen, the three of them felt as if their very life had been taken away.

Heart-broken with grief, the three of them began searching for the scriptures, until finally rumours reached their ears that perhaps the dacoit king Birhambir had stolen the books and was keeping them hidden in his royal storehouse. Overcome with emotion, he wept and chanted "Ha Gaurahari! Ha Gaurahari! Sitting beneath the shade of a Tal tree, he began to wonder "Where is the actual place of Shri Chaitanya's birth?

Narottama rose to his feet in respect. The brahmana said, "Baba, from where have you come? What is your name? The brahmana replied, "Today my life has become auspicious, for before my eyes is a dear devotee of Shri Chaitanya. You have seen Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?? The brahmana replied, "What are you saying! Every day Nimai Pandit sits with his disciples at this ghat and discusses the shastra, and then, from a distance I watch him and wonder at the beauty of his divine form.

Today I remember seeing that very form sitting beneath this tree here, where he sits every day. Narottama said, "Baba! It is the good fortune of a lifetime that I have beheld you with these eyes. The brahman said, "Baba! I give you my blessings that soon you will attain devotion to the lotus feet of Govinda. At that time, you will preach the glories of Gaura-Govinda far and wide.

After this, the brahmana showed Narottama Das the path to the house of Jagannatha Mishra. Sri Narottama das walked to the house of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Arriving at the house he fell down at the door with tears in his eyes and offered his full obeisance, while reciting various prayers in glorification of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Entering the house he had darshan of the lotus feet of Shuklambara Brahmachari.

Narottama das offered his respects to his feet. From different signs, Suklambara Chakravarti could understand that Narottam was the recipient of Sri Chaitanya's mercy.